EP1256268A1 - Device for hitching a seeddrill to a soil working machine with fastening rods - Google Patents

Abstract

The seeder which is coupled to a tractor (8) comprises an inverted V-shaped chassis with angled end branches constituting transverse guides (12). The chassis is fixed to the tractor by a pair of fixing elements (B). The fixing elements and guides are located symmetrically either side the chassis median longitudinal plane which also includes two calipers (3) which can be displaced laterally and immobilized on the guides. Each caliper comprises a clevis shaped portion whose two cheeks extend longitudinally. There are two pairs of connecting rods (4,5) each connected to the tractor by the fixing elements and to each of the clevises in two different points (P1,P2).

Description

The present invention relates to a coupling device of a seed drill at a tillage machine.

It is well known to attach a set of implements to a tractor agricultural implements including a soil working machine such as a harrow, and a seed drill possibly associated with a roller.

The soil working machine is placed in front of the seed drill if consider the direction of movement of the assembly.

This kind of combination is advantageous for the farmer in the as it allows, in a single pass on the ground, to prepare the soil and deposit the seeds.

It has been proposed in French Patent No. 91 00470 in the name of this requesting such a coupling device. This device is more particularly intended to be adapted to a seeder and a tillage machine which are not originally designed to be associated with each other. This is for example the case when coupling a new seed drill to a different brand machine and / or to an old model that the farmer already has in his possession.

This device makes use of telescopic arms and can be adjusted too well in height than longitudinally to take into account not only the size of the soil working machine but also the position of the seed drill and roller, when the latter is present.

In recent years, seeders of general structure have been proposed traditional, but fitted with a series of seed bars mounted on deformable parallelogram.

Therefore, depending on the size of the work machine of the soil and the roller with which the seed drill is possibly associated, we then orient in consequently the arrangement of the seed bars, both in height and longitudinally, by deformation of said parallelograms.

Therefore, it is no longer necessary to have a device which is adjustable both in height and longitudinally, since this function is devolved to the deformable parallelograms. A provision has therefore been made coupling device fitted not with telescopic arms, but with fixing rods welded, the free end of these rods being intended to be fixed on the ground work.

This situation creates a number of problems.

First, if the farmer changes the type of machine work and / or roller, it is not certain that the particular orientation and pre-established of the aforementioned fixing rods is compatible with these new equipment.

In addition, the manufacturer of the seed drill, which can also be the manufacturer of the coupling device, cannot know in advance the type of material (soil working machine and roller) already in place at the farmer's. Through Consequently, welding of connecting rods can only be done after the fact and cannot in no way be rationalized.

We know from document DE-A-31 24 266, not a device coupling a seed drill to a tillage machine, but a seed drill for which when it is raised, we wish that the coulters and auxiliary equipment do not are not damaged by the terrain during the headland turn.

To do this, a pivoting device is connected to the third hitch point of the seed drill on the tractor. In the particular embodiment, the pivoting device consists of a tilting lever connected to a part to a lifting cylinder and, secondly, to the third point of coupling of the stops appropriate limits the rotation of the assembly.

In fact, a single movable link actuated by a jack acts on the position of the seed drill, at each end of the field, by deformation of the geometry of the team.

This deformable arrangement does not provide a suitable solution for problems developed above.

The object of the present invention is precisely to alleviate these disadvantages.

In this perspective, it aims to provide a coupling device which is provided with means of attachment to the soil working machine which fill the same functions as the fixing rods mentioned at the beginning of description, but without presenting the disadvantages.

It also aims to provide a simple device which can be mass production, while being able to adapt to a multitude of machines working the soil and different seeders.

This device for coupling a seed drill to a soil working machine is of the type comprising an inverted "V" shaped chassis, the branches of which have one end bent outwards to form transverse guides, this chassis being intended to be fixed to the soil working machine by at least one pair of transversely directed fasteners, these guides and this pair of elements being symmetrically arranged on either side of the median longitudinal plane of the chassis, the latter also comprising two stirrups capable of being moved each laterally and immobilized in the desired position on one of the guides, each stirrup comprising a portion in the form of a yoke whose two cheeks extend longitudinally.

According to the invention, this device also comprises at least two pairs of rods, each pair being connected to the tillage machine by the at least one of the fastening elements and at each of said screeds at two points different, the assembly thus formed being undeformable but removable.

So using rods of equal or different lengths and by playing on the location of the attachment points of these rods to the machine and to the yokes, we will be able to provide a coupling device that can adapt to a multitude of configurations.

However, the removable nature of the assembly thus formed will be able to adapt to another configuration of tools in which the machine and / or roller have different sizes and / or dimensions.

• les biellettes d'une même paire sont reliées à ladite machine par un seul élément de fixation, de sorte que les trois points de liaison desdites biellettes à la machine et aux chapes forment un triangle fictif ;
• une des biellettes de chaque paire est reliée à ladite machine par un élément de fixation, tandis que la seconde biellette est fixée sur la première ;
• les biellettes d'une même paire sont reliées à ladite machine par des éléments de fixation en des points différents, de sorte que les quatre points de liaison desdites biellettes à la machine et aux chapes forment un quadrilatère fictif ;
• les extrémités opposées des biellettes, ainsi que la machine et les chapes portent des trous dans lesquels sont aptes à être engagés lesdits éléments et/ou d'autres moyens de liaison ;
• lesdites chapes comportent au moins trois trous, de sorte que les points de liaison desdites biellettes auxdites chapes peuvent être sélectionnés parmi deux de ces trois trous au moins ;
• lesdites biellettes sont de longueurs différentes ;
• l'extrémité desdites biellettes destinée à être fixée à ladite machine comporte une série de trous voisins, ces biellettes étant aptes à être sectionnées entre deux trous voisins pour présenter une longueur prédéterminée ;
• la pointe du châssis en forme de "V" renversé présente un trou de passage pour l'axe d'articulation d'une biellette d'attelage de longueur réglable.

According to other advantageous but non-limiting characteristics of this device:

• the links of the same pair are connected to said machine by a single fastening element, so that the three points of connection of said links to the machine and to the yokes form a fictitious triangle;
• one of the links of each pair is connected to said machine by a fixing element, while the second link is fixed to the first;
• the links of the same pair are connected to said machine by fastening elements at different points, so that the four connection points of said links to the machine and to the yokes form a fictitious quadrilateral;
• the opposite ends of the rods, as well as the machine and the yokes carry holes in which said elements and / or other connecting means are capable of being engaged;
• said yokes have at least three holes, so that the connection points of said links to said yokes can be selected from two of these three holes at least;
• said links are of different lengths;
• the end of said rods intended to be fixed to said machine comprises a series of neighboring holes, these rods being able to be sectioned between two neighboring holes to have a predetermined length;
• the tip of the inverted "V" -shaped chassis has a through hole for the articulation axis of an adjustable length link rod.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading of the description which will follow of certain preferred embodiments.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique, en perspective d'un premier mode de réalisation du dispositif ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de côté schématique du dispositif de la figure 1, celui-ci se trouvant mis en place entre le bâti d'un semoir et le bâti d'une machine de travail du sol ;
• la figure 3 est une représentation du même dispositif selon une vue similaire à celle de la figure 2, les biellettes du dispositif occupant cependant une position différente ;
• la figure 4 est également une vue de côté d'un dispositif conforme à l'invention mais avec des biellettes et un agencement mutuel de celles-ci prévus différents ;
• la figure 5 est une vue de côté schématique d'une autre forme de réalisation du dispositif et plus précisément de sa partie inférieure.

This description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the device;
• Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the device of Figure 1, it being placed between the frame of a drill and the frame of a soil working machine;
• Figure 3 is a representation of the same device in a view similar to that of Figure 2, the rods of the device however occupying a different position;
• Figure 4 is also a side view of a device according to the invention but with connecting rods and a mutual arrangement thereof provided different;
• Figure 5 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of the device and more specifically of its lower part.

The device shown in the figures has a structure essentially similar to that described in the aforementioned patent 91 00470. If necessary, we can get there see more details.

However, to facilitate the reading of this application, we will return below to the general structure of this system.

The device in question essentially comprises a chassis 1 in general shape of an inverted "V" formed by an assembly by welding of tubes of rectangular or square section. The branches of the "V" are referenced 10.

At its base, it is provided with two portions 12 which extend horizontally outwards, the branches 10 of the "V". Thus, the chassis has a symmetrical shape with respect to a vertical median plane designated P in FIG. 1.

At the tip of the "V", that is to say in the upper part of the chassis, is fixed a part 11 which provides the connection between the branches 10. This part delimits a central opening in which is articulated around a transverse axis 60, one end of a link rod 6 of adjustable length, known per se.

Each horizontal portion 12 of the chassis serves as a guide for a stirrup 3. This is itself used for mounting a pair of rods 4 and 5 described below in the description.

The notion of right and left which can be expressed below is made in relation to the direction of advance of the device when it is mounted at the front of a seed drill, and therefore at the rear of a soil working machine, the latter itself being coupled to a tractor. This direction of advance is symbolized by the arrow AV in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Each stirrup has an upper portion 3a in the form of "U" angle whose opening faces upwards. This angle can be fitted on each of the tubular guides 12 and be moved laterally thereon. The vertical wings 30 and 31 of the angle 3a have openings which allow the passage of clamping means 34 such as screws or bolts. In squeezing these, the wings 30 and 31 are slightly deformed towards each other, this which ensures the immobilization by friction of the stirrup 3 on the guide 2, in the position desired.

As is also known from the aforementioned patent, the lower part 3b of each stirrup has the shape of a yoke composed of two cheeks 32 and 33 which are arranged vertically and parallel to the plane P. The cheeks 32 and 33 have, seen from the side, the general shape of an "L" shaped shoe with a vertical part 35 directed towards the front of the device and a horizontal part 36 directed towards the bottom.

Each cheek has a series of several holes 37 regularly distributed over the vertical and horizontal portions. In this case, these holes are eight in number.

However, in an embodiment not shown, each cheek could have at least two different holes 37, or a more number important.

Of course, we find the same arrangement of holes in the second cheek piece of the stirrup, which allows the installation in the yoke of means of friction mount, such as a screw, bolt, or equivalent.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 2, the device according to the invention is intended to be fixed on the one hand to the frame elements of a seed drill 7 and a soil working machine 8.

As is well known, the triangular frame 1 is retained against the front face of the seed drill in a position close to the vertical by means of profiles 70 under which the chassis has been fitted by a movement from top to bottom. The fixing is completed if necessary by a screw or a bolt or a dowel (not shown) with a longitudinal axis, located in the lower part of the part 11 which separates the branches 10.

The connection of the chassis with the upper part of the work machine of the ground 8 is provided, as specified above, by the rod of variable length 6. This is connected to a fitting 83 secured to the machine, by a transverse axis 84.

In the lower part, the soil working machine also includes a coupling fitting 80 which is intended to be connected to the device by a pair of links, each link also cooperating with the two cheeks 32 and 33 of each of the stirrups described above.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the connecting rods question, numbered 4 and 5 have different respective lengths.

The shortest link 4 is fixed to the fitting 80 at a hole referenced 81. It is also fixed to the cheeks 32 and 33 at one of the holes 37 of their vertical portion 35.

The second link 5, of greater length, is fixed to the fitting at the same hole, and at the cheeks 32 and 33 at a different hole arranged on the horizontal portion 36.

The two links are therefore fixed to the cheeks at two separate points identified P ₁ and P ₂ .

Fixing assemblies B and C connect the connecting rods 4 and 5 to the fitting 80 and to the cheeks 32 and 33, so as to form a non-deformable but removable assembly. They are therefore preferably fixing means which perform a tightening so as in particular to slightly deform the cheeks 32 and 33 in order to enclose between them the links 4 and 7.

Having a multiplicity of holes 37 on cheeks 32 and 33 will allow, with the same type of pair of rods 4 and 5, to obtain orientations different from the coupling device and adapted to the tools with which it is intended to cooperate.

Thus, in Figure 3, the two rods 4 and 5 shown are of same type as those of FIGS. 1 and 2. However, their common point of attachment to the soil working machine 7 is arranged below the horizontal part of the two cheeks 32 and 33.

In the two cases described above, the attachment points of the rods form a fictitious triangle. Such an arrangement is sufficient to constitute a resistant and non-deformable assembly.

In this way, if the farmer changes equipment, he just disassemble the rods and adapt their new fixing points to new devices it has.

When the seed drill manufacturer is also the one supplying the coupling device, it is only necessary to supply the necessary quantity sets of rods and fasteners. A written user guide will indicate, if applicable, depending on the types of soil working machine and roller of which the farmer, how and where to attach the rods.

In the example shown in Figure 4, the shortest link 4 is fixed directly to the second link 5. Such an arrangement is suitable also.

This link 5 is supplied with only two holes. It involves however marks 51 which can be used to make additional holes if needed. This link also comprises at least one reference 50 which allows, if necessary, to achieve by cutting a shortening of the link.

Finally, in FIG. 5, an exemplary embodiment has been illustrated in which the attachment points of the links on the soil working machine 8 are different - indeed making use of two holes 81 and 82 - so that one constitutes thus a non-deformable quadrilateral once mounted, but removable in such a way that its shape can be modified for a new assembly.

Claims (8)

Device for coupling a seed drill (7) to a soil working machine (8), of the type comprising a frame (1) in the general shape of an inverted "V", the branches (10) of which have a bent end towards the outside to form transverse guides (12), this chassis being intended to be fixed to the soil working machine (8) by at least one pair of fixing elements ( B ) directed transversely, these guides (12) and this pair of elements ( B ) being arranged symmetrically on either side of the median longitudinal plane of the chassis (1), the latter also comprising two stirrups (3) able to be moved each laterally and immobilized in the desired position on one of the guides (12), each stirrup (3) comprising a yoke-shaped portion (3b), the two cheeks (32, 33) of which extend longitudinally, characterized in that it also comprises at least two pair of rods (4, 5), each pair being connected to the tr avail of the floor (8) by at least one of the fixing elements ( B ) and to each of said yokes (3b) at two different points ( P ₁ , P ₂ ), the assembly thus formed being undeformable but removable. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the links (4, 5) of the same pair are connected to said machine by a single fixing element ( B ), so that the three connection points of said links (4 , 5) to the machine (8) and to the yokes (3b) form a fictitious triangle. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the links (5) of each pair is connected to said machine (8) by a fixing element ( B ), while the second link (4) is fixed to the first (5). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the links (4, 5) of the same pair are connected to said machine (8) by fastening elements ( B ) at different points, so that the four points connecting said rods (4, 5) to the machine (8) and to the yokes (3b) form a fictitious quadrilateral. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the said yokes (3b) have at least three holes (37), so that the points of connection of the said links (4, 5) with the said yokes can be selected from two of these at least three holes (37). Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said links (4, 5) are of different lengths. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the end of said links (4, 5) intended to be fixed to said machine (8) comprises a series of neighboring holes, these links being able to be sectioned between two neighboring holes to present a predetermined length. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the tip of the inverted "V" -shaped chassis (1) has a through hole for the articulation axis (60) of a connecting rod hitch (6) of adjustable length.

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